Exhibit 12

                    KANSAS GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
          Computations of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
                        (Dollars in Thousands)


                                                                                                  
                                                         Year Ended December 31,                   
                                        1998         1997         1996         1995         1994   
                                                                           
Net Income. . . . . . . . . . . . .   $103,765     $ 52,128     $ 96,274     $110,873     $104,526 
Taxes on Income . . . . . . . . . .     44,971       17,408       36,258       51,787       55,349 
     Net Income Plus Taxes. . . . .    148,736       69,536      132,532      162,660      159,875 
                                             
Fixed Charges:                               
  Interest on Long-Term Debt. . . .     45,990       46,062       46,304       47,073       47,827 
  Interest on Other Indebtedness. .      3,368        4,388       11,758        5,190        5,183 
  Interest on Corporate-owned                
    Life Insurance Borrowings . . .     32,368       31,253       27,636       25,357       20,990 
  Interest Applicable to Rentals. .     25,106       25,143       25,539       25,375       25,096 
      Total Fixed Charges . . . . .    106,832      106,846      111,237      102,995       99,096 
                                              
Earnings (1). . . . . . . . . . . .   $255,568     $176,382     $243,769     $265,655     $258,971 
                                              
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.       2.39         1.65         2.19         2.58         2.61 



                                

     (1)  Earnings are deemed to consist of net income to which has been added income taxes (including net 
     deferred  investment  tax  credit)  and  fixed  charges.  Fixed  charges consist of all interest
     on  indebtedness, amortization  of debt  discount  and  expense, and the portion of rental
     expense which represents an interest factor.